Card stacking construction member and teaching aid

ABSTRACT

A card construction game and teaching tool for building a structure of cards includes a card holder having an outermost spherical surface. The card holder includes a plurality of slots disposed in spaced relation along the spherical surface, and is provided with hemispheres defined by any one of three mutually orthogonal planes. Each of the hemispheres include slots spaced equidistantly thereon, so that each of the hemispheres are symmetrical about a central axis thereof. The slots are sized and shaped to receive a portion of at least one of the cards therein, and include at least one projection configured to releasably engage the card portion disposed within the slot.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to novelty items and games, and more particularlyto a construction member for building structures planar cards such as adeck of playing cards.

2. Background Information

Throughout this application, various publications, patents and publishedpatent applications are referred to by an identifying citation. Thedisclosures of the publications, patents and published patentapplications referenced in this application are hereby incorporated byreference into the present disclosure.

Construction games have long been available which include parts that canbe assembled to form a structure. Such games are advantageous becausethey tend to increase manual dexterity, improve hand-eye coordination,and exercise the imagination of an individual. Examples of such gamesinclude TINKER TOYS™, LEGO™ blocks, ERECTOR™ sets, and more simply,wooden blocks.

While such games have successfully been utilized for many years, they donot permit the ready, safe assembly of thin panels or sheets of materialinto walls, buildings and other structures that may be easilydisassembled and conveniently stored. The ready assembly of thin panelsof material is advantageous because such panels can be imprinted with avariety of designs and illustrations. A group of cards when assembled ina particular order or pattern can illustrate an animal, a word, aletter, or any other desired object, thing, design, symbol or character.For example, four rectangular cards can each be imprinted with a portionof an object, so that when the cards are placed adjacent one another,e.g., in a co-planar fashion, the printing on the cards collectivelyforms a completed image. Alternatively, such a word, letter, object,etc. can be illustrated in its entirety on a single panel of material.Another advantage of using thin panels of material to assemble astructure is that thin panels take up a minimal amount of storage spacewhen the structure is disassembled.

One such game for cards is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,149 to Burk,entitled Card Stacking Game. This patent discloses a game in which cardscan be readily assembled and disassembled from a wide variety of threedimensional structures. The game includes card holders of variousconfigurations which enable the cards to be assembled into athree-dimensional structure. The holders are configured to engage two ormore cards, and include a two-piece hinge-like assembly which permitsone of the cards to be rotated or pivoted relative to the other(s).While the '149 patent may offer some advantages over the aforementionedart, this construction is not without drawbacks. For example, thevarious configurations of these card holders, and the two-piece holderconstruction, makes the game relatively complex, both for the user, andfor the game manufacturer/assembler who must fabricate and/or manageinventory for many distinct components.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved constructiongame and teaching tool in which a plurality of uniform, one-piece,construction members may be used to assemble cards into a wide varietyof free standing three dimensional structures.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention includes a card construction game andteaching tool for building a structure of cards. The game includes aplurality of cards, and a card holder having an outermost sphericalsurface. The card holder includes a plurality of slots disposed inspaced relation along the spherical surface, with the slots beingdisposed so that the holder is symmetrical about three mutuallyorthogonal planes. Each of the slots are sized and shaped to receive aportion of one of said cards therein. The slots also include opposingprojections configured to releasably engage the card portion disposedwithin the slot.

In another aspect of the present invention, a card construction game andteaching tool for building a structure of cards includes a card holderhaving an outermost spherical surface. The card holder includes aplurality of slots disposed in spaced relation along the sphericalsurface, and is provided with hemispheres defined by any one of threemutually orthogonal planes. Each of the hemispheres include slots spacedequidistantly thereon, so that each of the hemispheres are symmetricalabout a central axis thereof. The slots are sized and shaped to receivea portion of at least one of the cards therein, and include at least oneprojection configured to releasably engage the card portion disposedwithin the slot.

A further aspect of the invention includes a method for constructing agame and teaching tool. The method includes fabricating a card holderhaving an outermost spherical surface, placing a plurality of slots inspaced relation along the spherical surface, and spacing the slotsequidistantly on hemispheres defined by any one of three mutuallyorthogonal planes, so that each of the hemispheres is symmetrical abouta central axis thereof. The method also includes sizing and shaping eachof the slots to receive a portion of one of said cards therein, andproviding the slots with at least one projection configured toreleasably engage the card portion disposed within the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of this invention will bemore readily apparent from a reading of the following detaileddescription of various aspects of the invention taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary three-dimensional structurefabricated using an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of thestructure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a card holder of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the card holder of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the card holder of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the card holder taken along 6-6 of FIG.5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the card holder of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is tobe understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to beunderstood that structural, procedural and system changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by theappended claims and their equivalents. For clarity of exposition, likefeatures shown in the accompanying drawings shall be indicated with likereference numerals and similar features as shown in alternateembodiments in the drawings shall be indicated with similar referencenumerals.

Where used in this disclosure, the term “axial” when used in connectionwith an element described herein, shall refer to a direction relative tothe element, which is substantially parallel to its center of rotation awhen the element is installed on as shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, the term“transverse” shall refer to a direction substantially orthogonal to theaxial direction. The terms “transverse cross-section” or “transversecircumference” shall refer to a cross-section or circumference,respectively, taken along a plane oriented substantially orthogonally tothe axial direction.

Briefly described, embodiments of the present invention include a cardholder configured to receive edges of playing cards therein, to enable auser to easily construct a ‘house of cards’ or other geometric shapes.An exemplary card holder includes a small plastic sphere, e.g.,approximately the size of a large marble or golf ball, having aplurality of slits disposed in spaced relation thereon. The slits aresized to receive card portions, e.g., comers or edges, in a resilientpress-fit engagement, so that the natural bias of the plastic adequatelyengages and secures the card portions therein, while permitting the cardportions to be subsequently removed for disassembly and storage.

Referring now to the figures, specific embodiments of the presentinvention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the present inventionincludes a game or teaching tool, including a plurality of card holders10, that enables a user to conveniently build a three-dimensionalstructure 12 using planar card members 14. Embodiments of card holder 10are substantially spherical, and as better shown in FIG. 2, have aplurality of slots 16 configured to receivably support a portion of acard 14 therein.

Turning now to FIGS. 3-5, hemispheres of holder 10, respectively takenalong three mutually orthogonal planes, are shown. FIG. 3 shows ahemisphere taken along the x-z plane, while FIGS. 4 and 5 showhemispheres taken along the z-y and y-x planes, respectively. FIG. 6shows a hemisphere of card holder 10 taken along the x-(z+45 degree)plane. As also shown, several slots 16 are spaced equidistantly alongeach of these hemispheres, so that the resulting hemispheres are eachsymmetrical about two orthogonal planes or axes. This symmetrysimplifies embodiments of the present invention by enabling a single‘universal’ card holder to be used to support cards at various angles,e.g., 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, to one another. For example, in theembodiment shown, card holder 10 is configured to simultaneouslysupportably engage up to four cards in a co-planar orientation, in anyof three mutually orthogonal planes. Although the embodiments shown anddescribed include a predetermined number and arrangement of slots 16,the skilled artisan should recognize that substantially any number andarrangement of slots may be provided on the spherical surface withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Advantageously, this ability enables a user to assemble cards into awide variety of free standing three dimensional structures, nominallywithout the need for additional holder types. This, in turn, tends tosimplify the use of these embodiments for the user, and also tends toreduce manufacturing and inventory costs for the game manufacturer andor packager/assembler.

Turning now to FIG. 7, in particular embodiments, slots 16 may includeopposing projections 18 configured to releasably engage the card portiondisposed within the slot. In particularly desired embodiments,projections 18 are fabricated from a resilient material that may bedeflected against its natural bias by the card 14 as it is inserted intoslot 16. The bias serves to provide the press-fit engagement describedhereinabove, to secure the card therein, while permitting the user toeasily remove the card for subsequent disassembly, as also discussedhereinabove.

As shown, opposing projections 18 may be disposed directly opposite oneanother. Alternatively, the opposing projections may be offset from oneanother as shown in phantom.

As discussed hereinabove, projections 18 may be fabricated from apolymeric material. In particular embodiments, the entire card holder10, including projections 18, is fabricated from a polymeric material,such as PVC or ABS, as a one-piece, or unitary, device. For example,card holder 10 may be conveniently molded, such as by employingconventional injection molding equipment. It is contemplated that theholder 10 may be molded in one piece, or alternatively, twohemispherical portions may be individually molded, and then bonded toone another about their equators. Alternatively, holder 10 may bemachined from a piece of solid stock.

Moreover, the holder may be fabricated as a substantially solid device,or alternatively, may be substantially hollow. The skilled artisan willrecognize that the choice of solid or hollow may be dictated in largepart by the material and manufacturing technique being used.

Having described embodiments of the present invention, a description ofan exemplary method of fabrication of card holder 10 is shown inTable 1. TABLE 1 20 Providing card holder material with sphericalsurface; 22 Disposing slots along the spherical surface; 24 Spacing theslots equidistantly on hemispheres; 26 Configuring each of thehemispheres to be symmetrical about two orthogonal planes; 28Configuring the slots to receive a card therein; 30 Providing the slotswith opposing projections.

As shown, card holder stock, such as a plastic substrate, or plasticstock, is provided 20 or otherwise formed into a spherical surface. Aplurality of slots 16 are disposed 22 in spaced relation along thespherical surface. The slots may be provided in any suitable manner,such as by machining into the spherical surface, or by molding them intothe surface as the surface itself is molded. The slots are also spaced24 equidistantly on hemispheres defined by any one of three mutuallyorthogonal planes. In addition, each of the hemispheres are configured26 to be symmetrical about at least two orthogonal planes. The slots areconfigured 28 to receive a portion of one of said cards therein, and areprovided 30 with opposing projections 18. The foregoing steps may beperformed in any order, as desired depending on the fabrication methodused. Moreover, two or more of these steps may be combined and/orexecuted simultaneously without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention may thus include an assembly or kitincluding a plurality of card holders 10, with a set of cards 14suitable for use therewith. Alternatively, card holders 10 may be sizedand shaped for use with conventional playing cards, and thus the holders10 may be packaged and sold separately, with the expectation that theuser may provide their own cards. Regardless of whether or not cards aresold with the card holders, these embodiments advantageously serve as agame and tool for teaching rudimentary construction concepts tochildren, while improving fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination.These embodiments may also serve as a novelty item or desktop curiosityfor adults.

Although slots 16 are shown and described having a plurality of opposedprojections 18, the skilled artisan should recognize that the slots maybe provided without any projections, or with only a single projection,without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the preceding specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evidentthat various modifications and changes may be made thereunto withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings areaccordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictivesense.

1. A card construction game and teaching tool for building a structureof cards, comprising: a plurality of cards; at least one card holderhaving an outermost spherical surface; the card holder having aplurality of slots disposed in spaced relation along the sphericalsurface; the slots being disposed so that the holder is symmetricalabout three mutually orthogonal planes; each of the slots being sizedand shaped to receive a portion of one of said cards therein; and theslots including opposing projections configured to releasably engage thecard portion disposed within the slot.
 2. The game and teaching tool ofclaim 1, wherein the card holder comprises: hemispheres defined by anyone of three mutually orthogonal planes; each of the hemispheres havinga plurality of the slots spaced equidistantly thereon; and each of thehemispheres being substantially identical.
 3. The game and teaching toolof claim 2, the card holder is configured to supportably engage up tofour card portions in a co-planar orientation, in any of three mutuallyorthogonal planes.
 4. The game and teaching tool of claim 3, wherein thecard holder is configured to simultaneously engage up to four cardportions in a co-planar orientation, in each of three mutuallyorthogonal planes.
 5. The game and teaching tool of claim 1, comprisinga plurality of card holders.
 6. The game and teaching tool of claim 1,wherein the opposing projections are configured to apply a releasablebias against the card portion disposed within the slot.
 7. The game andteaching tool of claim 1, wherein the opposing projections are disposeddirectly opposite one another.
 8. The game and teaching tool of claim 1,wherein the opposing projections are offset from one another.
 9. Thegame and teaching tool of claim 8, wherein the opposing projections arefabricated from a resilient material configured to provide the bias. 10.The game and teaching tool of claim 9, wherein the opposing projectionsare fabricated from a polymeric material.
 11. The game and teaching toolof claim 10, wherein the card holder is fabricated from a polymericmaterial.
 12. The game and teaching tool of claim 11, wherein the cardholder is fabricated from a material selected from the group consistingof PVC, ABS, and combinations thereof.
 13. The game and teaching tool ofclaim 11, wherein the card holder is a one-piece device.
 14. The gameand teaching tool of claim 13, comprising a molded card holder.
 15. Thegame and teaching tool of claim 14, wherein the card holder comprisestwo molded hemispheres bonded to one another.
 16. The game and teachingtool of claim 15, wherein the card holder is hollow.
 17. The game andteaching tool of claim 15, wherein the card holder is substantiallysolid.
 18. A card construction game and teaching tool for building astructure of cards, comprising: at least one card holder having anoutermost spherical surface; the card holder having a plurality of slotsdisposed in spaced relation along the spherical surface; the card holderhaving hemispheres defined by any one of three mutually orthogonalplanes; each of the hemispheres having slots spaced equidistantlythereon; wherein each of the hemispheres are symmetrical about a centralaxis thereof; the hemispheres being substantially identical to oneanother; each of the slots being sized and shaped to receive a portionof at least one of said cards therein; and the slots including at leastone projection configured to releasably engage the card portion disposedwithin the slot.
 19. The game and teaching tool of claim 18, wherein thegame and teaching tool comprises a plurality of cards.
 20. A method forconstructing a game and teaching tool, the method comprising:fabricating a card holder having an outermost spherical surface;disposing a plurality of slots in spaced relation along the sphericalsurface; spacing the slots equidistantly on hemispheres defined by anyone of three mutually orthogonal planes; wherein each of the hemispheresis symmetrical about a central axis thereof; the hemispheres beingsubstantially identical to one another; sizing and shaping each of theslots to receive a portion of one of said cards therein; and providingthe slots with at least one projection configured to releasably engagethe card portion disposed within the slot.